Bradley Cooper Says He Doesn’t Allow Chairs on His Movie Sets: ‘Your Energy Dips the Minute You Sit Down’

Bradley Cooper likes to get things moving.

In a conversation with fellow director Spike Lee for Diversitythe Maestro The director, co-writer and star revealed that he does not allow chairs on the sets of the films he directs.

“When I’m directing, I don’t watch playback. There are no chairs,” said Cooper, 48. “I’ve always hated chairs on sets; the energy goes away as soon as you sit on the chair. There’s no video village.”

Despite not getting a seat break, Cooper told Lee, 66, that he “carried out exactly my vision” with Maestrowhich chronicles the romance between Leonard Bernstein (played by Cooper) and his wife Felicia Montealegre (played by Carey Mulligan).

“And that’s the result of having so much time to think, write and prepare to act in this film,” he added.

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Carey Mulligan as Felicia Montealegre and Bradley Cooper as Leonard Bernstein in Maestro (2023).

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In addition to his directorial duties, Cooper went to great lengths to resemble the famous musical genius Bernstein in the Maestro.

As Bernstein’s daughter Jamie, the oldest of his three children, recently told PEOPLE, “We had no idea that Bradley had this level of intensity and commitment when he got his hands on something.”

“There are even certain moments in the movie, when he’s in motion, where he looks so exactly like our dad that it makes us gasp,” she shared.

During the long process of making the film, Cooper was in constant contact with Bernstein’s children – Jamie, 71, plus Alexander, 68, and Nina, 61 – to make sure he was on track to capture their father.

“The way he embraced us going into this project — he was so open-hearted,” Jamie said. “We ended up feeling like we could trust him.”

Bradley Cooper and daughter Lea De Seine at the premiere of the film in Los Angeles Maestro December 12, 2023

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Cooper attended the Los Angeles premiere of his film on Tuesday, with a very special guest: 6-year-old Lea De Seine, who he shares with ex Irina Shayk.

At one point, Lea and a friend even pulled out a coloring book and sat down on the red carpet to have fun, while Cooper chatted with costar Mulligan (38).

Lea plays an episodic role Maestroplaying the younger version of Maya Hawke’s character — and her mom couldn’t be prouder.

On Tuesday, Shayk posted a sweet message on Instagram in honor of the film, sharing the movie poster for Maestro shows Lea dancing with Mulligan as Cooper leans on the grass.

“Congratulations @maestrofilm,” wrote the model, 37. “Such a proud papa and Lea 💕.”

Maestro premiered in select theaters in November and will be available to stream Wednesday on Netflix.

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